Improvement in potato-diggers



UNITED S'rn'rns PATENT omen IOEIN HENRY-LOUOH, OF ROME, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN POTATO'DIGGERQ.

Specification-forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,342 dated July 6,1e75, application filed April 23, 1875.

Tocll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHNH. LoUcH, of Rome, in the county of Perry andin theState of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Potato-Diggers and Separators; and do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompan yin g drawings and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a potato-digger, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my potatodigger. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are detachedviews of certain parts thereof.

A represents the frame of my machine provided with suitable boxesthrough which the axle B passes. On each end of the axle B is placed adriving-wheel, 0, connected with the axle by an ordinary spring-pawl, c,and ratchetwheel I). This ratchet device is located on the outside ofthe driving-wheel, as shown.

In the front part of the frame A is hinged the plow D, constructed withside flanges d d to form guides for the potatoes and dirt as they arebeing taken up by the front end of the plow. These flanges are-by links0 6 connected with arms ff projecting from a shaft, h, on top. On oneend of the shaft h is secured a lever, E, provided with suitable rods orlinks for the driver to take hold of for raising the plow out of theground in turning.

From the back or hinged end of the plow I extends a slatted platform orgrating, G, to a shaft, 6, back of and parallel with the rod that pivotsthe plow and holds the platform. The platform is at its ends providedwith flanges through which the pins pass into the frame A, to hold theplatform in place.

On the shaft 2' are secured a series of four armed wheels or collars, kk, the arms of which I are curved backward,-and the shaft-is made torevolve backward, so that the curved arms .will work through the slotsin the platform Gr,

and take the potatoes, vines and all, and deliver-the same on theendless carrier, which conveys them upward, the dirt falling through thecarrier and the potatoes being deposited in a box, L, at the tail end ofthe machine. This curved-arm wheel 43 k is interposed between the hingedplowshare and endless belt, and the share can be adjusted up or downwithout changing the position of said wheel.

The endless carrier consists of a series of bars, at m, having shorttransverse bars or plates n a formed at their ends, which plates or barsare united together by rivets, so as to turn freely, thus forming aflexible endless chain. Every alternate bar m is provided with a seriesof outward-projecting teeth or plates, 19 p. The endless-carrier thusconstructed is placed overchain-wheels s s and s s, secured respectivelyupon shafts t and t. The shaft t has its bearings in elevated standardsHH, on the rear end of the frame A, which standards are made adjustableon the frame so as to keep the endlesscarrier tight.

On the axle B, on one side of. the machine, is secured a cog-wheel, I,which gears with a pinion, a, on one end of the shaft 2', to revolve thearms is k thereon. On the other end of the shaft c' is a pinion, b,which communicates motion through an intermediatepinion, d, to a pinion,e, on the end of the shaft 8, and thereby gives proper motion to theendless carrier.

The endless carrier and revolving arms are covered by a box or casing,J, upon which are two railings, f f, supporting the drivers seat K, andsaid seat can be adjusted back and forth on said railings to regulatethe balance of the machine.

I am aware that a potato-digger having an endless-carrier belt and aplow in front thereof is not new. I am further aware that a revolvingshaft with arms has been known and used in potato-diggers to carry thepotatoes from the plow to the carrier; but, with my invention, theendless belt is of such formation that no bands are used for connectingthe bars of the carrier, as in my case the said bars are connecteddirect one to the other. The endless carrier in my case is stationarywith the also stationary with the frame. The plow is hinged to the frameand can be raisedor lowered to enter the earth at any required depth,without disturbing the shaft and its curved arms, or the endlesscarrier. No matter what inclination is given to the plow, the curvedarmwheel and carrier remain and operate the same.

The curved-arm wheel interposed between the hinged plow and slottedplatform on one side, and the carrier on the other side, is veryessential, as it takes the potatoes and vines as they are brought up bythe plow' onto the platform and delivers. the same to the carrier asfast as the same are forced up the inclined plow-face.

Having thus fully described my inventionwhat I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. In a potato-digger, the endless carrier consisting of a series ofbars, m m, provided at their ends with downwardly-projecting crossplatesa a, pivoted together, and every alternate bar provided with projectingteeth or arms 10 p, substantially as and for the purposes herein setforth.

2. The combination in the potato-digger of the adjustable plow d, curvedrotating arms 7c is, slotted platform G, and endless carrier m up, allconstructed substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. 4

In testimony that I claim the foregoing,'I have hereunto set my handthis 10th day of April, 1875.

JOHN HENRY LOUGH. Witnesses:

ADAM ACKARMAN, JosnPH VASAR.

